The Mitigating Role of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in the Abuse of Prescription Drugs

42 Pages Posted: 18 Sep 2017

See all articles by Erica Birk

Erica Birk

University of Oregon

Glen R. Waddell

University of Oregon - Department of Economics; Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)

Abstract

In response to the epidemic of prescription-drug abuse, now 49 US states have passed legislation to establish Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). These programs track controlled-substance prescribing and usage behavior in an effort to improve patient outcomes and identify and preempt access by drug abusers. We exploit variation in the timing of implementation across states to identify the effectiveness of PDMPs on reducing opioid abuse. In particular, by considering the role of specific program attributes we offer the strongest evidence to date of the potential for PDMP-type policy to decrease opioid-related treatment admissions. We also consider heterogeneity across intensity and tenure of use, which reveals that the largest gains are coming from reductions in the number of less-attached users. Overall, these results have important implications for the effective re-design of PDMP policy.

Keywords: prescription drug, drug treatment, opioid, abuse

JEL Classification: I12, I18, K42

Suggested Citation

Birk, Erica and Waddell, Glen R., The Mitigating Role of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in the Abuse of Prescription Drugs. IZA Discussion Paper No. 10990, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3037875 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3037875

Erica Birk (Contact Author)

University of Oregon

1280 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

Glen R. Waddell

University of Oregon - Department of Economics ( email )

Eugene, OR 97403
United States
541-346-1259 (Phone)
541-346-1243 (Fax)

Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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